parks



m m L lm COTTON CHOPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet l original Filed` Aug. s, 1925 M6 p mromuf Oct. 23, 1928.

, J. L.4 PARKS COTTON SHOPPER 2 neets-sheet 2 original Filed Aug. s,i925 Reissued Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES ati-17,113 Pn'rlNr OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. PARKS, DECEASED, LATE OF HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA, BY JOHN L.

PARKS, JR., ADMINISTRATOR, CF HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA. i

COTTON CHOPPER.

Original No. 1,570,277. dated January 19, 1926, Serial No. 47,799, filedAugust 3, 1925. Application for reissue filed January 7, 1928 Thisinvention relates to impioveimentsin cotton chopping machines, and hasfor its principal object to provide a cotton chopping blade or hoe whichis adapted for oscillatory movement in a direction transverse to therows of cotton over which the machine travels.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cotton chopperwhich includes a main wheeled frame, and a supplemental frame, thelatter being pivotally supported on the main frame, and adapted forvertical movement, ground engaging guide shoes being arranged on thesupplemental frame which are adapted to slidealong the ground on eachside of the rows of cotton, a vertically movable arm being supported atits forward end on the main frame and carrying a cotton chopping bladeat the rear end which is disposed between the guide shoes, means beingfurther provided for effecting the oscillatory movement of the arm andthe chopping blade during the use of the machine whereby the cotton maybe readily and efficiently chopped or beaten.

A further object is to provide a cotton chopper of the above mentionedcharacter wherein means is provided for facilitating the raising of thesupplemental frame which carries the guide shoes, so that the guideshoes will not enga ge the lground when the machine is not in operation,the vertical movement of the. supplemental frame and the chopping bladecarrying arm compensating for the unevenness of the ground ver which themachine is to travel when chopping the cotton.

A still further object is to provide a cotton chopper of the abovementioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive,strong and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which itis designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description takenin connection withthe accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of tlie cotton chopper embodying thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the supplemental frame, showing themanner in Serial No. 245,247.

which t-he saine is associated with the forward portion of the mainframe, and further illustrating the arm which carries the chopping bladeat the rear end thereof, and

Figure 4L is an enlarged detail of the ball and socket joint for theforward end of the arm, and the forward end of the pitman i'od.

In thedrawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 1 designatesgenerally the main frame, the saine comprising the beams 2 and 3respectivelvv A block r8 is arranged on the bottom of the forward end ofthe head 9 which is formed on the forward ends of the converging beamsof the main frame, and the purpose of this block will be presentlyapparent.

A supplemental floating. frame, designated generally by the numeral 10is arranged' below the main frame 1, and said supplemental frameincludes the forwardly converging beams 11 and 12, a cross piece 11iprovidingl the connection between the forward ends of these beams. Theforward end of the supplemental 'floating frame 10 ispivotally'associated with the main frame through the medium of thesubstantially U-shaped meinber 15, the crown portion of which is securedto the forward edge of the cross piece 14, as at 16. The upper free endsof the arms of the U-sliaped member 15 are pivotallyv secured to theblock 8 by the pivots 17, it being understood of course that-the ai'nisof the U- shaped member 15 are curved as illustrated arms of which aresecured to the intermediate portions of the beams 2 and 3 of the mainframe 1.

An enlarged block 22 is secured on the bottom of thehead 9 at a pointrearwardly of the smaller block 8, and formed in the block is the ballshaped socket 23. An opening is formed in the rear face of the block 22,and this opening tapers gradually towards the socket 23, as shown moreclearly in Figure 4; A similar opening is formed in one of the sidefaces of the block, and the opening 25 also tapers gradually toward thesocket 23 lfrom each end of the clamp with which the same communicates.

An elongated arm 26 is disposed longitudinally between the main frame,and the supplemental floating frame 10, the forward end of the armhaving secured thereon the shank 27, on the forward end of which isarranged the'ball shaped head 28 which head lits within the socket 23 sothat a universal ball and socket joint between the forward end of thearm and the block 22 is provided. The rear end of the arm 26 is disposeddownwardly, and slightly rearwardly7 as shown at 29, in Figure 2, andcarried by the lower end of the same is the chopping blade or hoe 30.The latter being slightly curved.

Thus far, it will be seen that means has been provided for permittingthe vertical movement of the iioating frame 10, and the arm 26 whichsupports the cotton chopping blades 30, and should any irregularities beencountered by the shoes, or chopping blade, when the cotton chopper isiu operation, the elements will automatically be raised so as to passover the obstructions, or irregularities in the ground without causingany damage to the same.

For the purpose of holding the supplemental Hoating frame 10 in a raisedposition, I provide a clamp designated generally7 by the numeral 31,which is secured transversely on the beams 11 and 12 of the fioatingframe 10.

An elongated rod 32 VVextends upwardly 31, and the upper ends of theserods have the eyes 34 formed thereon. A pair of brackets 35 extendupwardly from the main frame 1 adjacent the intermediate portion of thebeams 2 and 3,

and the upper rends of these brackets Aare notched to receive theintermediate portion 36 of a suitable operating rod. One end of this rodvis disposed rearwardly and extends through the eye 34 of one of therods 32, this portion of the operating rod being indicated at 37.' Theother end portion 3S of the operating rod also extends rearwardlythrough the eye 34 of the other rod 32, and the rear portion of th-e endportions 38 of the operating rod passes'through an eye 39 which isarranged on the inner side of an upright 40 adjacent the upper endthereof,said upright being'arranged atthe rear end of the 'main frame.The free end of the elongated portion .38 of the actuating' rod willthereby be disposed- Within easy reach of the operator of the cottonchopper who occupies the seat 41, the support forthe latter being shownat 42.

For the purpose of effecting the oscillatory movement of the arm 26, andthe chopping blade 30 carried by the rear end thereof simultaneous withthe forward movement of the cotton chopper', there is provided on theaxle 5 the gear wheel 43, a driven shaft 44 is supported on the mainframe 1, as arranged transversely thereof. A pinion 45 is carried by oneend of the driven shaft 44, and this pinion meshes with the gear 43whereby the driven shaft will be actuated simultaneous with the rotationof the ground engaging wheels 6. A clutch mechanism designated generallyby the numeral 46 of any well known construction is associated with thedriven shaft for moving the same into and out of engagement with thepinion, the lever 47 for controlling the clutch mechanism beingsupported on the frame so as to be readily accessible to the operator.

Extending laterally from vthe head 28 which is seated in the ball shapedsocket 23 is the arm 48, the same also extending through the opening 25.A ball shaped head 49 is formed on the outer end of the laterall tendingarm 48, and is received in the ball shaped socket 50 provided thereforin the forward end of an elongated pitman rod 51r whereby a ball andsocket connection between the laterally extending arm 48 and the pitmanrod 51 is provided. This pitman rod is connected to the other end of thedriven shaft 44 through the medium of the eccentric designated generallyby the numeral 52.

Itis obvious that when t-he clutch 46 is thrown in, the shaft 44 will bedriven through the medium of the gear and pinion 43 and 45 respectively,and through the medium of the eccentric and pitman rod, an oscillatorymovement will be imparted to the arm 43, and to the-arm 26, on the rearend of which is carried the choppingiblade `30, thus causing thechopping blade to oscillate in a direction transverse to the line oftravel of the machine so that the cotton rows will be engaged by theblade and chopped, or thinned out in the manner well known in the art.By throwing out the clutch, the shaft 44 is disconnected so that theoscillatory movement of the arms 26 and 48 will be stopped.

In the operation of the machine, the upward and downward movements ofthe chopping blade are coordinated with the corresponding movements ofthe supplemental frame, by the guiding action of the clamp bar 3l whichis located immediately below the longitudinal arm 26 which carries thechopping blade, and automatically raises the same, when the supplementalframe is raised by the riding and sliding contact of the shoes as thesame travel upon the ground.

In this manner, the chopping blade is automatically raised by thesupplemental frame, whenever the guide or depth regulating shoes rideupon and over local elevations in the ground, and as these shoes arepreferably located in advance of the chopping blade, the blade will beraised before it cuts too deep into the elevation, and will thereforeoperate at the desired depth in the ground for properly chopping thecotton stalks.

The operation and effectiveness of the machine is facilitated, becausethe chopping blade or shoe is constantly1 kept at the proper elevationfor its cotton cutting Work; and also because of the trailing action ofthe guide shoes and the chopping blade as they are drawn along theground at the rear of the machine from their respective and independentpivotal connections with the forward end of the machine, thechopping-blade arm being free to move laterally on its pivotalconnection free of the supplemental frame,

A cotton chopper of the above mentioned character will at all times beposit-ive and efficient in its operation, and the simplicity in whichthe same is constructed enables the parts to be readily assembled, ordisassembled, and easily operated.

lVhile there is shown the preferred embodiment of this invent-ion, it isto be understoodv that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the1nvention and the scope of the appended claims.

l. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepivotally supported below the main frame and adapted for verticalmovement, ground y engaging guide shoes carried by the supplementalframe` an elongated arm, a chopping blade carried by the rear endthereof, a socket member arranged on the forward end of the main frame,a ball shaped head carried by the forward end of said arm, and disposedwithin said socket, an arm extending laterally from the ball shaped headthrough the opposite side of the socket, and means for actuating saidlast mentioned arm to effect the oscillatory movement of the arm and thechopping blade thereby.

-means for oscillating the 2. A cotton chopper" comprising a main Wheelframe, a supplemental frame pivotally supported below the main frame andadapted for vertical movement, ground engaging guide shoes carried bythe supplemental frame, an elongated arm, a chopping blade carried bythe rea-r end thereof, a socket meinber arranged on the forward end ofthe main frame, a ball shaped head carried by the forward end of saidarm, and disposed within said socket, an arm extending laterally fromthe ball shaped head through the opposite side of the socket, and meansfor actuating said last mentioned arm to effect the oscilla torymovement of the arm and the chopping blades thereby, said last mentionedmeans comprising a reciprocating pitman, the for ward end thereof beingprovidedv with a socket, and a ball shaped head carried by the cuter endof said laterally extending arm, and disposed within said lastmentionei'l socket.

3. A cotton chopper comprising a main frame, an axle arrangedtransversely on the rear -end thereof, ground engaging wheels mounted onthe respective ends of the axle, a socket member supported onA theforward end of the frame, an elongated arm, a chopping blade carried bythe rear end thereof, a ball shaped head carried by the forward end ofsaid arm and disposed within said socket, an arm extending laterallyfrom the ball shaped head to the. opposite side of said socket, a drivenshaft supported on said frame adapted to be rotated simultaneous withsaid'wheels, an eccentric mounted on said driven shaft, a pitman rod`fixed at its rear end with said eccentric, and a ball and socketconnection between the forward end of said pitman rod and the outer endof the laterally extending arm whereby said chop-- ping blade carryingarm is adapted for oscillatory movement.

L A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepivotally supported at the forward end of the main frame and adapted forvertical movement, groundv engaging depth regulating slices carried bythe y supplemental frame and trailing at the rear of the machine, anelongated arm pivotally supported by a ball and socket j oint at theforward end of the main frame, a. chopping blade trailing at the rearend of said arm in rear of the guide shoes, chopping blade transversely,and means for lifting the chopping blade when the supplemental frame israised.

5. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepiv'otally supported at the forward end of the main frame and adaptedfor vert-ical movement, ground engaging depth regulating shoes carriedby the supplemental frame and trailing at the rear of the. machine, anelongated f5 il liu arm pivotally supported by a ball and socket jointat the forward end of the main fi'ame, and movable laterally free of thesupplemental frame, a chopping blade trailing at the rear end of saidarm, means for oscillating the chopping blade transversely, and meansfor lifting the chopping blade when the supplemental frame is raised.

6. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepivotally supported at the forward end of the main frame and adapted forvertical, movement, depth regulating shoes carried by the supplementalframe and trailing from the main frame, an -elongated arm independentlyconnected by a universal joint at the forward end of the main frame, achopping blade on the rear end of said arm, trailing iii rear of thedepth regulating slices, means for raising the chopping blade when thesupplemental frame is raised, and means for operating the choppingblade.

7. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepivotally supported upon the forward end of the main frame` and adaptedfor vertical movement, depth regulating shoes carried by thesupplemental frame and trailing from the main frame, an elongated armconnected by a universal joint at the forward end of the main frame, achopping blade on the rear end of said arm, trailing in rear of thedepth regulating shoes, means for raising the chopping blade when thesupplemental frame is raised, and means for operating the choppingbla-de.

8. A cotton wheel frame, a supplemental frame pivotally supported at theforward end of tl e main frame and adapted for vertical movement, depthregulating shoes carried by the supplemental frame and trailing from themain frame, an elongated arm independently connected by a universaljoint at the forward end of the main frame, and movable laterally freeof the supplemental frame a chopping blade trailing at the rear end ofsaid arm, means for raising the chopping blade when the supplementalframe is raised. and means for operating the chopping blade. y y

9. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepivotally supported at the forward end of the main frame and adapted forvertical movement, depth regulating shoes carried by the supplementalframe and trailing from. the main frame, a chopping blade trailing i nrear of the depth regulating shoes and having a forwardpivotal'connection by a universal joint with the main frame, means forraising the chopping blade when the supplemental frame choppercomprising a main is raised, and'l means for operating the choppingblade. Y

l0. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepivotally supported at the forward end of the main frame and adapted forvertical movement, depth regulating shoes carried by the supplementalframe and trailing from the main frame, a chopping blade trailing ini'ear of the depth regulating shoes and having a` forward pivotalconnection with the main fram-c. means for raising the chopping bladewhen the supplemental frame'is raised, and mea-ns for operating thechopping blad ll. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheelframe, asupplemental frame pivotally supported below the main frame and adaptedfor vertical movement, ground engaging depth regulating shoes carried bythe supplemental. frame, an elongated arm. a chopping blade carried bythe-rear end thereof. a socket member arranged on the forward end of themain frame, a ball shaped head carried by the forward end of said arm,and disposed within said socket, an arm extending laterally from theball i shaped head through the opposite side of the socket, means foractuating said last mentioned arm to effect the oscillatory movement ofthe arm and the choppingblade thereby, and means for raising thechopping blade when the supplemental frame. is raised.

12. A cotton chopper comprising a main wheel frame, a supplemental framepivotally supported below the main frame and adapted for verticalmovement, ground engaging depth regulating shoes carried by thesupplemental frame, an elongated arm, a chopping blade carried bythe-rear end thereof, a socket member arranged on the forward end of themain frame, a ball shaped head carried by the forward end of said arm,and disposed within said socket, an arm extending laterally from theball shaped head through the opposite side` of the socketyand means foractuating said last mentioned arm to effect the oscillatory movement ofthe arm and the chopping blades thereby, said last mentioned meanscompris-ing a reciprocating pitinan, the forward end thereof being provided with a socket, a ball shaped head carried by the outer end of saidlaterally extending arm, and disposed within said last inentionedsocket', and means for raising the chopping blade when the supplementalframe is raised.

J. L. PARKS, JR., Admm'stmtor o7 the Estate of' Joseph L.

Perlas, Deceased.

